External risk intelligence

Hirschmann HiSecOS HTTPS Login Buffer Overflow

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.3)

CVE-2018-25237

The vulnerability affects the HTTPS login interface of Hirschmann HiSecOS devices. Administrative interfaces for network infrastructure appliances are commonly deployed as web-based portals accessible over the network, and while often managed internally, these interfaces are frequently exposed or reachable within enterprise, industrial, or edge network environments.

Buffer Overflow

Halo Surface Signal: 4 out of 5 — likely to be public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

A critical vulnerability exists in Hirschmann HiSecOS devices, specifically within the HTTPS login interface when RADIUS authentication is enabled. This flaw allows remote attackers to potentially crash the device or execute arbitrary code by providing an overly long password. The underlying issue stems from improper handling of password inputs, which can lead to a buffer overflow.

Attackers can crash or control devices remotely.
This impacts network device security and availability.
Confirm exposure and assess device relevance.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

Attackers can reach Hirschmann HiSecOS devices through the network and interact with the HTTPS login interface when RADIUS authentication is enabled. By submitting a password exceeding 128 characters, they can trigger a buffer overflow vulnerability, potentially leading to device crashes or arbitrary code execution.

Network access required.
Submit oversized password to login.
Device crash or code execution.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability could impact Hirschmann HiSecOS devices when using RADIUS authentication via their HTTPS login interface. A remote attacker could potentially cause a denial of service or execute arbitrary code on the affected device by submitting a specially crafted, overly long password.

Device availability and integrity at risk.
Exploited via network-accessible HTTPS login.
Device crash or arbitrary code execution.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

This vulnerability affects Hirschmann HiSecOS devices, likely managed by infrastructure or network operations teams. The initial priority is to locate all instances of the affected technology, determine their network reachability and business criticality, and identify the specific asset owner. Remediation efforts should then be planned based on this risk assessment.

Infrastructure and network teams should own this.
Verify HTTPS login with RADIUS authentication.
Plan remediation based on asset criticality.

Supplementary metadata

CVSS vector

Validate whether this threat affects your internet-facing exposure.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Hirschmann HiSecOS?

Hirschmann HiSecOS is the specialized operating system powering Hirschmann industrial networking devices. These appliances, such as managed switches, are critical for maintaining connectivity in industrial, enterprise, and edge network environments. Because they often function as central communication hubs, their secure operation is essential for the stability of the broader network infrastructure they support.

What does CWE-120 mean for CVE-2018-25237?

CWE-120 refers to a classic buffer overflow vulnerability. In the context of this CVE, it means the software fails to properly verify the size of the data being input into the login field. When a password longer than 128 characters is submitted, the system writes that data into a fixed-size memory space that cannot hold it. This memory corruption can cause the device to crash or allow an attacker to run their own commands.

How is this vulnerability triggered?

An attacker triggers this flaw by interacting with the HTTPS login interface of an affected device where RADIUS authentication is enabled. By sending an oversized password string, the attacker exploits the lack of bounds checking in the login function. Notably, this issue does not occur if RADIUS authentication is disabled, as the vulnerable code path that handles the password processing is not engaged in that configuration.

Is my network device at risk?

According to Halo Surface Signal, risk depends on network reachability. While these administrative portals are often managed internally, they are frequently accessible across various network segments. If your device’s HTTPS login interface is reachable over the network—even if just within an enterprise or industrial segment—it could be vulnerable if it uses RADIUS authentication.

What should I do if I run HiSecOS?

First, identify all Hirschmann HiSecOS devices within your environment to see which ones have RADIUS authentication enabled for their HTTPS login. Once you have mapped these assets, determine their specific network exposure and business importance. Use this information to prioritize your response, focusing on securing access to those interfaces while you plan and execute the necessary updates.

References

Written by Nicholas Merritt

Nicholas Merritt is VP of Security Solutions at Halo Security. With more than 25 years across application security, vulnerability prioritization, and offensive security, he helps teams translate threat data into practical exposure validation and remediation focus. He authors Halo Threat Intelligence CVE advisories using Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context to prioritize internet-facing risk.